Brian Mattiello, vice president of organizational development for Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, speaks during the Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce’s 23rd annual ìCelebration of Successî dinner at the Warner Theatre Tuesday. Mattiello was the recepient of the chamber’s community leader award.
Laurie Gaboardi — The Register Citizen

TORRINGTON >> The Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce held their 23rd annual “Celebration of Success” dinner Tuesday, recognizing local leaders in the areas of community, business, and quality of life.

The dinner held at the Carole and Ray Neag Performing Arts Center of the Warner Theatre had approximately 230 attendees, said JoAnn Ryan, chamber president and CEO. Torrington High School’s Jazz band provided the music.

The community leader award went to Brian Mattiello, vice president of organizational development for Charlotte Hungerford Hospital.

The business leader award went to Connecticut Mutual Holding Company, a partnership between three area banks - Northwest Community bank, Litchfield Bancorp and Collinsville Savings Society - that formed in 2001. Accepting the award were Steve Riley, president and CEO of Connecticut Mutual Holding and Northwest Community Bank; Tom Villanova, vice-president of Connecticut Mutual Holding and president and CEO of Litchfield Bancorp; and Gary Roman, secretary/treasurer of Connecticut Mutual Holding and president and CEO of Collinsville Savings Society.

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Reilly has been with Northwest Community bank since 1996, starting as a commercial lending officer and moving up the ranks to senior vice president, chief lending officer, executive vice president, COO, president and CEO. He is active in the community serving with various non-profit organizations including NCCC, United Way of Northwest Connecticut, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, Northwest Connecticut YMCA, and the Prospect Little League. In 2005, he received the United Way Volunteer of the Year Award.

Villanova began his career with Litchfield Bancorp in 1994 as vice president and commercial lender. By 2005, he was executive vice president and chief operating officer before being promoted to President and CEO in 2012. Villanova was active in the Chamber of Commerce, the United Way of Northwest Connecticut, Connecticut Business Development Corporation and the Litchfield Hills Economic Development Partnership. He is also a board member for the Stonier Graduate School of Banking.

Roman has been in the banking industry since 1984 when he started as assistant vice president at Shawmut Bank. He took the position as President and COO of Collinsville Savings Society in 2012.

The quality of life award went to the manufacturing and nursing programs at Northwestern Connecticut Community College. Barbara Douglas, president of NCCC introduced nursing program grad Judy Hemenway and manufacturing grad Juan Morales, who each accepted the award.

“They are both relatively new programs, each having started only three to four years ago. Both programs meet a specific workforce need. Both educate students for well-paying jobs,” said Douglas. “As Juan said in his brief remarks ‘It’s time to get back to work. People just want to work.’”

Douglas said the college raised $1.2 million in private funds to begin the nursing program. Major donors were area hospitals, banks, private foundations, corporations and individuals.

“It was really very moving with the dean of students, the faculty there. [Judy] was a teacher who went back to school for nursing because of this program,” said Ryan. “[Juan] got downsized from his job and went back to school for manufacturing.”

Ryan said that the honorees are selected from submitted nominations by a committee of Chamber members. A brief press release from the Chamber states that the criteria for recognition are contribution to the business environment; community involvement and commitment to the overall improvement in the quality of life in Northwest Connecticut.

Jenny Golfin can be reached at 860-489-3121, ext. 357.

About the Author

Jenny Golfin formerly worked breaking news reporter for the Register Citizen and covered non-profit agencies in Litchfield County. Reach the author at jgolfin@registercitizen.com
or follow Jenny on Twitter: @Jennygrc.